That led to the announcement this month that Carriage will buy Garden of Memories Funeral Home and Cemetery in Metairie, Schoen Funeral Home in New Orleans, Greenwood Funeral Home in New Orleans and Tharp-Sontheimer Funeral Home in Metairie.

A statement on the Carriage acquisition of the four properties quoted Stephen Sontheimer, fourth generation Tharp-Sontheimer funeral director, praising the move.

"Our funeral director partners and staff feel very fortunate that Carriage is coming to New Orleans," Sontheimer said. "This financially strong company has a fine reputation in our industry and is particularly focused on working with the management and staff at each facility in a non-corporate environment, and encourages the use of local resources."

Sontheimer said the new owners value "our long service employees and the legacy of our neighborhood funeral homes." He said he expects Carriage to improve the facilities and offer individualized service to families.

The statement from Carriage called New Orleans a "large and demographically attractive strategic market." It said the company encourages decentralized decision-making, which "will offer these communities something different, positive and customized respecting local needs."

Under an agreement with federal regulators, SCI has to divest 70 properties in 15 states.

After the $1.13 billion merger with Stewart, SCI reports operating more than 2,000 funeral homes and cemeteries in 43 states, eight Canadian provinces, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Its statement about the four New Orleans area locations said the company wanted to be the first in the industry to close on properties that SCI had to divest. Carriage also bought two properties in Virginia.